Natasha Wiebe

A cold snap brought temperatures in the area down to the minus thirties with windchills in the minus forties, now temperatures are beginning to go up to the negative single digits. Christy Climenhaga, Scientist with Environment Canada, explains the fluctuating temperatures are due to arctic air competing with warm air from the south. 

An incident in Mossbank prompted a conversation about taxidermy laws when the Ministry of Corrections completed a routine inspection of a taxidermist in the area and found 144 untagged wildlife exhibits alongside the taxidermist being unable to provide a taxidermy license.  

“It began as a routine inspection by two officers out of Assiniboia and then they quickly realized it was probably more than a two-man job” says Sergeant Grant Robinson with the Conservation Officer Service and Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety.  

An incident in Mossbank prompted a conversation about taxidermy laws when the Ministry of Corrections completed a routine inspection of a taxidermist in the area and found 144 untagged wildlife exhibits alongside the taxidermist being unable to provide a taxidermy license.  

“It began as a routine inspection by two officers out of Assiniboia and then they quickly realized it was probably more than a two-man job” says Sergeant Grant Robinson with the Conservation Officer Service and Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety.  

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) sent a statement regarding the frequent closure of the Radville Marian Health Centre ER due to a physician shortage. There have been six closures since December when it was announced that a Virtual Physician Program would be implemented in the community to mitigate closures. 

The statement begins stating every jurisdiction in Canada is seeing an increased demand for healthcare services.  

The Midale Senior Mustangs team recently announced a new addition to their roster: former NHL defenseman Keaton Ellerby. Midale Mustangs head Coach and Team Manager, Dustin Graham, says they recruited Ellerby in the summer. 

“All through the off season we do a lot of recruiting. We know quite a few guys and that kind of rabbit holes into meeting more guys and we stumbled across a guy who was buddies with Keaton and he was looking to play some senior hockey. We got to him first and he agreed to come.” 

Temperatures in the southeast are swinging like a pendulum as we approach the official first day of winter on December 21st. Last weekend saw highs of up to plus seven while last night’s low neared minus 30. Now Saturday is expected to bring warmer temperatures again, meteorologist Danielle Desjardins with Environment Canada says the back-and-forth temperatures bring physical and psychological effects.  

A regular occurrence in the winter is moose making their way into urban settings. Senior Conservation Officer, Lindey Leko, says this happens for a variety of reasons. 

A regular occurrence in the winter is moose making their way within city limits. Senior Conservation Officer, Lindsey Leko, says this happens for a variety of reasons. 

A cold snap is expected to bring in temperatures between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees with the potential risk of frostbite. Dr. Stanley Enebeli with the Saskatchewan Health Authority says frostbite is a risk any time cold weather conditions exist. He explains frostbite is an injury that leads to the loss of colour and feeling in extremities due to freezing temperatures. 

The first winter storm of the season hit the southeast last week and with it came hazardous road conditions. Snowplow driver Robert Dolinski spoke at a Highway Hotline press event on Friday. He says it's satisfying to be on the roads after a snowfall while others wait out the bad conditions. 

“At the end of the day, it's satisfying. To be able to make the roads safer for the public and, of course, all our families.”